She screamed and fired off several more shots, hitting his chest and neck. He reached her and fell on her, flattening them both to the floor. Hissing and yelling, she twisted her wrist and fired the gun as many times as she could into his body. The Kurjan yelled and rolled over, bleeding from multiple spots, grabbing his groin.

Benny stumbled out of the office, bleeding. “What is up with you shooting folks in the balls?” he muttered, weaving toward them and smashing his boot into the Kurjan’s face several times. The soldier went limp, finally unconscious.

“I’ve been training,” Grace gasped.

“You okay?” Benny held out a hand to help her up.

She took it, her head spinning. “Yes.”

A Cyst soldier flew out of one of the doorways by the stairs, fracturing the wall all the way to the rebar. Adare followed him, bloody and battered.

“Adare!” Grace cried.

He turned, his eyes a deadly black rimmed with silver. “Grace.” Relief softened his face just as the Cyst jumped up and rammed him back into the office. They rolled out, kicking and punching, damaging the doorframe. The Cyst grabbed a knife from his boot and slashed, faster than Grace could see.

Adare locked his legs around the Cyst, spun them over, and landed on the soldier’s chest. In one smooth move, he took the knife, flipped it around, and drove the blade through the Cyst’s neck to the floor. The soldier grabbed the knife, kicking, and Adare stood to stomp on his nose and face until he went unconscious.

Grace swallowed. He was alive. He was okay.

Another Kurjan soldier burst around the corner, gun out and firing. Benny took one in the jaw, and Grace reacted without thinking, shoving him out of the way.

A bullet pierced her neck and she cried out, slapping a hand to the wound and going down fast.

The roar from Adare was animalistic and raw. He was a blur of speed as he raced past her and took the enemy down, his bare fists breaking bones and cartilage. Blood flew in every direction until the Kurjan soldier stopped moving.

Benny leaned down, his gaze concerned. “What the hell were you doing?” His words came out garbled with the bullet hole still in his lower jaw.

Grace gagged. Tears filled her eyes.

Adare rushed toward her, dropping to his knees. “What in the hell were you thinking?”

“I forgot,” she whispered. She’d reacted without thought when she’d seen an injured Benny in trouble.

Adare ripped open his wrist and shoved the wound toward her mouth. “Drink.”

She did so, taking in his strength and imagining the cells going to her neck. The bullet popped out and plopped onto the floor. Her skin stitched itself together, and the pain slowly ebbed. She removed her hand. “I love you. Totally. Want to let you know.” Then, even though her wound was healed, the entire bloody room spun around.